Improvement in apparatus for tempering and annealing car-wheels



2Sheets--Sheet1. W. S. E. BAKER- Apparatus for Tampering and Annealing Car-Wheels.

N0.14Q,370, I PatentedApri|7,1874.

TIGP I. I

' fil I I l Witnesses; Inventor;

-.- l/VY' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM S. G. BAKER, OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND.

' IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR TEMPERING AND ANNEALING CAR-WHEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,370, dated April 7, 1874 application filed March 16, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. G. BAKER, of Baltimore county, State of Maryland, have invented an Improved Pit for Annealing Cast Iron Gar-Wheels with Chilled Rims or other suitable Castings, of which the following is a specification The object of my invention is to slowly cooleast-iron wheels, and to cool the central or heavier parts more rapidly than the outer or lighter parts, thus counteracting the unequal contraction in such castings.

I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawin g, in which- Figure l is a vertical section through the axis of the pit; and Fig. 2 is a vertical section v of the top of the pipe or main central flue,

with a conical stopper, to be used when wheels are being put into the pit.

project either above or below the base-plate G. This boss G has in it a socket to receive the end of a central stem or flue,,E, with sufficient bearing-to support it stifiiy and securely, but so arranged that said main central flue E can be removed at pleasure. This main central flue E should be of sufficient length to reach nearly to the top of the pit, and should have no opening,except at the upper end, being closed at the bottom, so that any dirt that may get into it can be removed bylifting it out. It is furnished with a conical stopper or plug,P, (shown in Fig.2,) which is used only while the wheels are entering the pit. The wheels m m m are put in the pit as hot as they can be handled, and are placed regularly one upon another until the pit is full, the main central stem or line passing through the hole made in each wheel to receive the axle, the plug P removing the cores placed in the hubs, and preventing dirt from getting into the flue E. If the pit is very deep,it may be necessary, when it is partly filled, to place a metal spider or brace over the central stem or flue E, to rest against the sides of the pit, so as to brace said central stem or flue and prevent it from getting out of line. When the pit has been filled, the central stem or flue E keeps the wheels in a direct perpendicular column, securin g a steady current through the centers of the hubs, regardless of the size or shape of the wheels. As soon as the pit is full of wheels, the stopper 1? is removed, and the pit is immediately closed with the lid 0, which is a cylindrical metal box filled with a non-conducting cement, B. The lid 0 is made to fit the upper ring R, which, is made with a recess, S. (Shown in Fig. 1.)' This recess is filled with sand, clay, or any other suitable substance that will yield to the weight of the lid, making an air-tight joint. Passing through the center of the lid 0 into and nearly to the bottom of the main central flue E is a pipe, F, open at each end, and which thus forms a communication between the bottom of said main central flue and the outer air. This pipe F is made sufliciently large to allow the currents of gas and air to pass freely up and down it, and the annular space between its outer surface and the inner surface of said main central flue E must also be sufficiently large to allow similar free passage of said currents. The pipe F is the only communication between the outer air and the pit, which elsewhere should be air-tight, or as nearly so as possible. By this means the only way for the heated gases to pass out of, and for the cold air to pass into, the pit, is through the pipe F and the main flue E.- All currents being thus forced, to pass through the openings in the hubs of the wheels, the heavier parts near the hubs come first in contact with the colder air from outside, and cool more rapidly than the outer parts near the rims of the wheels, which are kept hot by the heat of the castings.

I do not claim a straight vertical and adjustable escape-pipe placed centrally of the pit and cover, with lower end of pipe having perforations; but

What 1 do claim is 3. The air-tight joint formed by means of the 1. The pipe F,placed within the main cenlid and groove or grooves, to receive sand or tral flue or guide E, so as to produce a downward and upwardcurrent of gases or air inward or outward through the openings in the hubs of the wheels,substantially as described.

2. A central guide, E, passing through the holes made for axles in the hubs of the wheels, thereby maintaining the wheels in a perpendicular column, regardless of the shape or size of the wheels.

other packing, substantially as described.

4. A stopper, 1?, for pressing the cores out of the hubs of the wheels, and preventing dirt from entering the central flue, substantially as described.

M. S. G. BAKER.

Vitnesses:

J M. LAwFoRn,

WALTER F. ELMER. 

